Quotes about debate
72 quotes from 61 people
There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse.
Socrates470–399 BCPhaedo
Gertrude Stein1874–1946“Form and Intelligibility,” from The Radcliffe Manuscripts (1949); written in 1895 as an undergraduate at Radcliffe College
Adlai Stevenson II1900–1965Speech in New York City (28 August 1952)Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired.
Jonathan Swift1667–1745Letter to a Young Clergyman (January 9, 1720), on proving Christianity to unbelievers
Margaret Thatcher1925–2013From an interview for Italian television (RAI) (10 March 1986)- Margaret Thatcher1925–2013The Times (1980), as cited in
Harry S. Truman1884–1972Address at the National Plowing Match (18 September 1948); as quoted in Miracle of ‘48: Harry Truman’s Major Campaign Speeches and Selected Whistle-stops (2003); edited by Steve NealThe well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900Bruce Bashford Oscar Wilde: The Critic as Humanist, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1999, p. 68.
George Willborn 1941Discussion, Fox News Sunday, February 16, 2014
Woodrow Wilson1856–1924Speech on Military Preparedness, Pittsburgh (29 January 1916)A philosopher who is not taking part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring.
Ludwig Wittgenstein1889–1951Conversation of 1930